'This means a lot': Ocala Salvation Army reopens dining hall after two-year COVID closure

The Salvation Army Center of Hope Dining Hall in downtown Ocala reopened on May 11 after a two-year shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sign hanging in the hall reads: "Gather; Give Thanks."

Lisa, a victim of domestic violence, was among the first diners to do so.

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"I'm happy," said Lisa, 59, as she sat at a table with several other people.

Lisa, whose last name is not provided because of her case circumstances, is currently homeless and now living at the Ocala Salvation Army. She said she "got out of an 18-year relationship" in California that involved domestic violence and came to Florida.

"I'm happy to have...food and place to stay," Lisa said.

Lisa recently completed background checks and had fingerprints taken as steps toward seeking a job.

Lisa went to the serving line and quietly thanked the kitchen volunteers and servers as she left the hall.

Chicken Mississippi was the first entree for the reopened dining hall

Before Lisa and the others guests were admitted to the hall at 5 p.m., staff and volunteers had been working at preparing Chicken Mississippi, a dish cooked with several spices and ranch dressing mix, as the main course for the first inside sit-down meal since March 2020.

The chicken was donated to the Salvation Army, according to Patricia Lane, a social services worker with the agency.

Lane helped prepare and serve the meal and oversaw the operation at the hall. Becky Reynolds, director of social services, said 80 diners attended the reopening. Capacity is 95.

Diners were served meals in takeout containers while the hall was closed because of COVID. Residents could take their meals to the Center of Hope dayroom to eat.

Reynolds said about the same number of people were fed during the closure as when the hall was open.

Reynolds stated the Center of Hope currently has 36 single adults in the shelter, which is 50% of capacity, due to remaining COVID restrictions tied to shelter design.

There are six families with 21 members now at the shelter.

Reynolds said the Salvation Army strives to "do the most good," and those in need of a meal are welcome at the hall.

The reopening of the hall meant non-resident diners could eat in air conditioned comfort, away from the heat, cold and rain, and could enjoy a meal while chatting with other folks.

Forrest McIntyre has a unique perspective on Salvation Army dining halls

Retired Salvation Army Maj. Forrest McIntyre, who co-commanded the Ocala Salvation Army from 1987 to 1992 along with his wife and co-commander, Salvation Army Maj. Caroline McIntyre, was on hand for the reopening of the hall.

He said the dining hall, which has seen significant additions over the years, was built in 1952 as a chapel by partners Ray and Davidson, once the owners of the Silver Springs attraction, mostly as a donation.

The Salvation Army is “is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible,” according to SalvationArmy.org.

Forrest McIntyre, 77, a Boston native, said his father was an alcoholic. The Salvation Army is where young Forrest got his meals at times.

"At age 14 I decided I wanted to be a Salvation Army minister," he said.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1964 and remained until 1984, attaining the rank of chief petty officer.

Shorty after his military service McIntyre entered training to become a Salvation Army ordained minister.

"What we are doing is taking care of God's children. The Bible tells: 'The poor will always be with us,' " McIntyre said.

McIntyre has never been apprehensive working with homeless people during his time with the Salvation Army.

“Be honest with them and they'll be honest with you. Except for one paycheck, many (non-homeless people) might be homeless. I can't believe (all) the homeless people choose to be out there," he said.

He has encountered situations in the field that might have concerned some people, but he said all people seem to "respect the Salvation Army uniform.”

McIntyre said after his service at the Ocala Salvation Army he traveled nationwide and was an administrator for Salvation Army adult drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

McIntyre first retired in 2011 and returned to Ocala with Caroline McIntyre. He soon began “post-retirement service” by overseeing the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Northeast 14th Street, where he remained until 2017, when he started oversight of all Salvation Army thrift stores in Florida.

He stepped away from the work in 2021 due to illness.

McIntyre had open heart surgery in February and is fully retired "for the time being."

He said the Salvation Army’s outreach work would not be possible without the support of the Marion County community.

'This means a lot'

A waiting line formed outside the dining hall before the doors opened on May 11. Several people remarked on the good meals and friendly staff at the hall.

Jeff Rafferty, 58, in Ocala for one year, said he is homeless and has no family to turn to for help.

He has been plagued by chronic health problems, including seizures. He's waiting on food stamp assistance.

"(The Salvation Army staff) treats you like a human being," Rafferty said.

Another man waiting in line said the "staff is nice."

Once the doors opened, Rafferty was joined at a table by another diner, Bruce Shockley.

Franco Ferrecti, 80, a former professional soccer player, sat and ate. He said his assets were taken by a former associate. He is now living at the Salvation Army.

Freeman Polite, also a diner, enjoyed the Mississippi chicken.

"This means a lot," he said.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Salvation Army in Ocala, Florida reopens dining hall after COVID-19 closure